Dennis Brown, however, hurried to the rescue.

He came across the room to Joan, and sat down at her side.
"I haven't had a word with you, Joan." "No," she answered.
"And how's the little book going on?
Do tell me! I won't laugh, upon my word." Joan herself tried not to.

"Oh, pig, pig!" she exclaimed, but she got no further in her anathema for Miranda drew up a stool, and sat in admiration before her.
"Yes, do tell us," she pleaded.

"It's all so wonderful." Miranda, however, was never to hear.

Mr.Albany Todd leaned forward with an upraised forefinger, and a smile of keen discernment.
"You are writing a book, Miss Whitworth," he said, as if he had discovered the truth by his own intuition, and expected her to deny the impeachment.